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Japan Times
01-04-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world's few heritage stones
In 2024, the Tsukuba massif granite of the Mt. Tsukuba Area Geopark was certified by the International Union of Geological Sciences as one of the first 55 IUGS Heritage Stones, which have been 'used in significant architecture and monuments' and 'recognized as integral aspects of human culture.' In a recent interview with The Japan Times, Mt. Tsukuba Area Geopark Promotion Council specialist Kaoru Sugihara, a geologist and former professor, spoke about the characteristics of the region's granite and the positive effects that the certification has brought. The geopark covers a large area in central Ibaraki Prefecture west of Lake Kasumigaura, Japan's second-largest lake. With Mount Tsukuba at its center and many other smaller mountains, the area is home to three main types of granite, formed at different times and named after the areas where they are found: Tsukuba granite, Kabasan granite and Inada granite. 'They can be further divided into smaller groups based on their characteristics,' Sugihara said. 'But it is not only the geological diversity and scientific value that the IUGS recognizes, but also the cultural and historical value of the stones based on how local people have used the resources.' He explained that the council had decided to apply for certification for a number of reasons. 'By having our important regional resource certified by a global organization, we will be able to promote not only the stones, but also the geopark itself. This will help increase the international presence of Japan's geopark network and contribute to the broader global geopark community,' he said. Another purpose was to promote and support the local stone industry: 'We need to preserve the special techniques of mining and stone working while securing human resources. This certification was a perfect opportunity for people in the industry to think about how to preserve the mining culture in a sustainable way while preserving the geological heritage itself.' The certification was also an opportunity to reassess the local history and culture. Sugihara noted that in ancient times, mountain worship flourished in this area, and huge stones and rocks found in the mountains were the object of worship and places for ascetic practices. In the Kamakura Period, the value of these stones as building materials was further recognized, and stone-carving technology developed in the area. An artisan works on a Makabe stone lantern made from Kabasan granite. | MT. TSUKUBA AREA GEOPARK PROMOTION COUNCIL 'With the introduction of Western culture to Japan during the Meiji Era, Western-style stone architecture flourished in the Kanto region, leading to the extensive use of granite from the Tsukuba mountains in buildings that are now recognized as National Treasures and important cultural assets,' said Sugihara. He pointed out that a major outcome of the IUGS Heritage Stone certification has been an increased interest in the geopark among those involved in the stone industry, and a heightened sense of confidence and pride in the history and techniques of the local stone industry. 'There has also been an increased awareness of the need for sustainable practices within the stone industry. I believe it is possible to find ways to improve the sustainability of stone quarrying and processing while preserving the rich history and culture of the region, which is rooted in the use of stone as a resource,' he said. He also noted that efforts are being made to improve technology to increase the proportion of commercially viable stone, which has been less than 30% of the total extracted from the mountains. 'The development of new products using stone waste, including toys and craft items, is also underway,' he said. The council is also planning tours to Tokyo this year to visit places and buildings where Ibaraki granite is used. 'For example, the granite mined in the Inada region, in the northern part of the geopark, is used in the walls of the Supreme Court of Japan,' Sugihara said. He noted that various parts of the Diet building and Tokyo Station are also made of granite from Ibaraki. 'We hope to bring people from Tokyo and other parts of Japan to Ibaraki to see the quarries and how the stone is processed,' he said. The Tsukuba Geo Museum features exhibits, educational installations and video materials that help people learn how stone is formed, mined, processed and made into building materials and traditional crafts such as stone lanterns. 'Through various efforts, we aim to arouse interest in the industry among younger generations in order to preserve the regional culture,' Sugihara said. Tsukuba is a member of the Sustainable Japan Network, a group of companies that cooperate with this newspaper to spread information about sustainability in Japan. You can also be part of the network; visit for more details.


Forbes
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
CAPE Radiance Gala Celebrates API Women And Nonbinary Individuals In Light Of Attack On DEI
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: CAPE presenters and honorees attend CAPE's third annual Radiance ... More Gala Celebrating API Women & Non-Binary Achievement in Entertainment at The Ebell of Los Angeles on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor CAPE) As Trump's attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility continue to cause rollbacks and eliminations of DEI programs in Hollywood, there are still many nonprofits dedicated to minorities, women, and other underrepresented demographics fighting back. The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) is one of them. As one of the leading Asian and Pacific Islander entertainment organizations, CAPE held its third annual Radiance Gala Monday night at The Ebell in Los Angeles. Hosted by Kiran Deol, the event celebrates the achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander women and non-binary artists, artisans, and leading voices in entertainment. The decrease in DEI support from the current administration did not deter CAPE executive director and CEO Michelle Sugihara and her team as they prepared for their event, held annually during Women's History Month. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Michelle Sugihara speaks onstage at CAPE's third annual Radiance ... More Gala Celebrating API Women & Non-Binary Achievement in Entertainment at The Ebell of Los Angeles on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor CAPE) 'At [this] moment, events like these are even more important than ever, because this is a testament to showing them that joy is our power, and the source of our strength,' Sugihara tells Forbes. '[This is a time] in the community to be together when everyone else is trying to tear us down. We are stronger when we show the world that we aren't going anywhere.' Proceeds from the gala will support CAPE's pathway programs for API industry folks, including the CAPE New Writers Fellowship (CNWF), CAPE New Leaders Fellowship (CLF), Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge for API Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers, CAPE Animation Directors Accelerator, CAPE Emerging Executives Committee, and many other inoculation programs. CNWF's program has one of the highest success rates in the industry, with its graduates staffed on over 70 shows across all major network, cable, and streaming platforms – in addition to signing overall deals. 'CAPE writers are represented throughout the ranks from staff writer to showrunner,' Sugihara says. 'The CAPE Leaders Fellowship for rising senior-level creative executives has seen over 40 promotions. CAPE's programs have launched and advanced hundreds of careers for Asians and Pacific Islanders in entertainment.' The gala presented awards to API trailblazers throughout the industry – in front and behind the camera, including the Cindy Y. Huang Rising Star Award given to Amber Midthunder (Novocaine, 'Legion'), the Julia S. Gouw Next Gen Award given to Maia Kealoha (Disney's Lilo & Stitch), the Trailblazer Award given to activist Cecilia Chung (Transgender Law Center), the Behind-the-Camera Award given to Aika Miyake (Film Editor, FX's 'Shōgun'), the Visionary Award given to Samantha Quan (Producer, Anora), the Comedy Award to Zarna Garg, and the Social Impact Award to Ann Lee (CEO/Co-Founder, Community Organized Relief Effort, a.k.a. CORE) & Tiffany Tse (VP Development, CORE). The Best in Film Award was presented to Disney's Moana 2's Dana Ledoux Miller (Director and Writer), Kalikolehua Hurley (Sr. Manager, Head of Cultural Trust at Walt Disney Animation Studios), Christina Chen (Producer, p.g.a.) Avneet Kaur (Head of Characters & Technical Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios), Grace Kim (Casting Director), and Erin Ramos (Effects Supervisor). LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Daria Overby accepts the Uplifter Award at CAPE's third annual ... More Radiance Gala Celebrating API Women & Non-Binary Achievement in Entertainment at The Ebell of Los Angeles on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor CAPE) Though the energy throughout the night was mostly praise and celebration, it was hard to ignore the current climate and the impending shifts in studio funding and programs. STARZ Network executive director of Creative Diversity and Inclusion Daria Overby, who received the Uplifter Award for her work on CAPE's Showrunner Incubator program and STARZ #TakeTheLead initiative, said in her speech that the network is 'committed to amplifying narratives by, about, and for women and underrepresented audiences.' She tells the audience that despite these uncertain times, diversity in this business should not be a dirty word – rather, an intentional choice' and to 'keep asking the hard questions and pushing boundaries.' 'Change doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen when we work together,' said Overby. 'Let's not settle for anything less than what we deserve.' Ledoux-Miller addressed the situation during her speech, saying that those with 'fragile egos' have come for diverse voices 'yet again,' but 'they will not defeat us.' Ledoux-Miller, whose film made over 1 billion dollars at the global box office in 2024 and was watched 27.3 million times in its first week streaming on Disney+, said, 'They can try to strip our funding. They can underestimate us. Try to tell us we are not enough. But we know the truth. We know, like Moana, that no matter the storms ahead, we will never stop discovering the depths of our courage, the strength of our communities and not just our value, but our worth.' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: (L-R) Christina Chen, Avneet Kaur, Grace Kim, Kalikolehua ... More Hurley, Erin Ramos, and Dana Ledoux Miller accept the Best In Film Award for 'Moana 2' at CAPE's third annual Radiance Gala Celebrating API Women & Non-Binary Achievement in Entertainment at The Ebell of Los Angeles on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor CAPE) The night was filled with many empowered by the honorees' words and surrounded by passionate API non-binary people and women in the entertainment field. Director and writer Mayumi Yoshida, who participated in CAPE's Beyond JAPAN-FILMMAKER program with the Japan External Trade Organization last fall, called the event an 'extraordinary experience' and felt inspired by fellow professionals making strides in the industry. 'I've been feeling the change in how programs are being shut down or losing funding,' says Yoshida. 'This event made me feel this connection laterally and vertically, introducing you to these folks who are much more experienced and gave me hope that I can go to these people [and go through CAPE's] programs.' Sugihara credits her dedicated staff and team of volunteers and CAPE's generous sponsors, including Lexus, Julis S. Gouw, Bill Imada, Cindy Y. Huang, STARZ, and more, for keeping their programs and the Radiance Gala running. As the world's longest-running API-focused nonprofit for the past 34 years, CAPE plans to continue serving its community through its programs and industry partnerships. Sugihara says, 'As the industry contracts and attacks against DEI increase, these programs are increasingly more critical to ensure underrepresented voices and stories are heard and told.'